Abbas: Mideast peace deal won't happen with me

all proposals from Barak's to Olmert's were border proposals. They have been all without exception rebuffed by the Palestinian leadership. So no argument about the "settlements first" functions. Would the Palestinians have ever been just discontent about borders details, they would have made an alternative proposal, which could have been discussed. In fact are the Palestinians hiding the obvious. They try to obstruct the first stages of Oslo since they do not want to make any concessions concerning the major issues which would have to come to discussion following to this. Their main aim is to put the blame on the Israelis for destructing Oslo, so thay may leave the road of tratatives.

"You forget that Israel made promises that Clinton called unprecedented" As soon as she got home, so we've heard, she was told off by Obama for that! Because she couldn't stop settlement consruction...

You almost seem like you're mellowing a bit..is that possible? I could be wrong,not quite so radically pro pal,suicide bombing approving,qassam approving,maybe using your brain...I approve of that..or did Ben Jabo finally make an impression on you after years of trying?

Why on earth would anybody listen to Obama? This guy is the laughingstock of the world. You lefties elected this pussy,butthe world has to live with him...he's a total disaster..

Abbas is stepping down because he was an lame duck even before he took power. He has been an abject failure. Fortunately he can blame the Jews for his failures.

"because following a final peace agreement there will be no more settlements, they will either be inside of Israel proper or Palestine" Now the above will only be true if Israel agrees to set borders, which it has refused to do so far...only then will we know what is Israel and what is Palestine. I agree the wall/fence has stopped suicide bombing but I also think that thanks to Abbas the culture in the WB has changed somewhat as you suggest. It's really down to Israel; if it would set borders, we could see what land would be left for a Palestinian state. Also the problem is what to do about Gaza? The Palestinians have the right to want Gaza and the WB to be joined for a "Palestine" but how is this to be done to Israel's satisfaction?

the Security Fence, because they can't get into Israel without being searched countless times, it might be that the culture has changed but that is neglible by comparison Settlements are a non-issue following a final peace agreement, you have to agree to this claim. Why? because following a final peace agreement there will be no more settlements, they will either be inside of Israel proper or Palestine. Especially if the value of the settlements is evaulated at a rate that does not include the value added construction, but throws it in a "signing bonus". This way Palestinians would get developed settlement blocs which they can destroy or augment to their liking. I certainly agree there is substantial tension between zealous settlers and Palestinians in West Bank, what I don't agree with on is this: I believe that if a final status agreement was made, this tension would be removed, Y? a stir up between the 2 would be an act of war which IDF would prevent Your retort

But what can Israel offer Abbas, except to halt settlement construction? That's what Abbas wants, because construction is taking place on land Abbas wants for a Palestinian state. If I were Abbas, that's what I'd be asking for too. As for the Palestinian side, suicide bombing has stopped and the West Bank Palestinians are the ones being victimised by the settlers, not the other way around. Even you must agree with this. Without a halt to construction, what else has Israel to offer? Nothing....and why won't they halt construction? If I were Abbas, I'd step down in disgust also...there's nothing further for him to do...

You forget that Israel made promises that Clinton called unprecedented. Obama tried to get some sign of goodwill from Arab states and failed. It is a good development that Palestinians understand that Obama cannot stop building in the settlements. Abbas or his successor will need to negotiate that with Israel.

"But the next elections have anyhow been indefinitely postponed by me, so there will actually be no need for anyone to put a candidacy forward" It is high time for Abbas to stop that childish behavior, or to step down (I mean really really step down!

"Obama asked for a settlement freeze and failed." Therefore why should Abbas try to negotiate? Are you kidding. Obama was clumsy and tried to get Israel to take on a big political lobby (settlers) without a guarantee that it'll produce anything. It was a dopey move. Settlers can be moved - see Gaza, Yamit (Sinai) - but Israel has to see that it'll produce something tangible. Yamit was evacuated AFTER final peace talks with Egypt, not before. It worked. Can't Abbas be expected to learn from Egypt??? Gaza was evacuated unilaterally and Hamas took over. Didn't work. A freeze in communities that are going to be part of Israel anyway is just a grandstanding gesture that will cause an unnecessary political fight. Why push Netanyahu to expend his political capital on that? He'd need it for the real talks if only Abbas would sit down with him. I support a freeze, but not in a vaccuum. Learn from Egypt!

As I stated, Abbas has a power which Obama could never wield. A Power that if Obama wielded would become unjust by virtue of who Obama is. That power, the power of democracy and reprsentation. The power to negotiate on behalf of a peoples and power which Obama does not have and realistically could never have. A power, which Abbas has either forgotten or purposefully neglected, or has neglected due to fear that if he were to wield this power and it not work he would be truly powerless and there would be large vaccumm that would most likely cause some chaos. On your point about Obama asking Bibi, the same could be said about Obama asking Abbas to dismantle terror organizations, to level the incitement that the Waqf instilled, to put goldstone commission on the back bench for 6 months. So the argument of Bibi didn't listen to Obama doesn't hold, unless Abbas listened to everything Obama did, such that you could say it was a constant, but since Abbas didn't it is a variable like bibi

After Arafat died, I was somewhat optimistic with the possibility of peace. But with the Gaza situation, the bombings, the continued developments with the settlements, Obama's bad diplomacy on linking terrorism with settlements, it doesn't look good. Only the PA and the neighboring countries, Egypt, Jordan & Israel can put something in place. It is in their interest, and unfortunately, time is truly running out, as more terrorist states get a hold of weaponry that can penetrate Israel's borders. Very sad.

I certainly agree this about this chicken and egg game....the whole thing is a dog and pony show. But one thing is clear: Obama asked Israel to halt settlement expansion, and Israel refused. I can understand Abbas' point; how can he succeed by any amount of talking where Obama failed?

When Ariel Sharon decided to pullout of Gaza he made the decision and and literally pushed the settlers out of Gaza. The man had "balls". He was not afraid to push the people for something he felt would be better for the country. Both Arafat and Abbas were afraid of the militants. Till a strong leader is available to make tough decisions the only word I can think of is NEXT !!!!

For Example as you restate from the article: "If Obama can't stop settlements how can I" there actually is a way that Abbas can stop settlement construction, a way which Obama cannot. A FINAL STATUS PEACE AGREEMENT If Abbas, negotiated one, then there would be no more settlements, they'd be agreed part of Israel or part of Palestine, but they'd not be in that Grey Area. So Silvienne, this chicken or egg game can go on forever, and since the Status Quo does not suit Palestinian interest, maybe Arab interest, would it not make sense to do everything to change it? And don't you think the best way to change would be to have negotiations and final status agreement to end the conflict. Now lets be reasonable, who do you think is best equiped to deliver such a deal, Abbas, Hamas,Barghouti, Dahlan as I don't see any other strong leaders.

The West Bank Palestinians are being attacked by the settlers as the IDF stand watching. Palestinians are not safe harvesting their olives as these settler thugs destroy their orchards. See those settlers run if the IDF was ever withdrawn from the West Bank! Abbas is correct; as the man says, if Obama cannot stop settlement construction, how can he?

When I was a little younger, I used to go on these Israel Advocacy trips. All expenses paid, you go to Israel, meet with Cabinet Minister, Tourism Officials and others to discuss and learn about the situation then come back to Toronto and lead talks to get people to go to Israel, Tourism is Israel #1 industry and it makes good on Foreign Currency Reserves. I can still remember one meeting, where the Cabinet minister had discussed that Israel was working to try and get Abbas to power as he was termed a "moderate" and the thinking was that you can't make peace with radical, like Arafat. Well I guess you can't make peace with a Moderate either, scary though, makes you wonder if there are other hands and interests at work besides the two parties who are directly involved, Palestinians and Israelis, or if the two are descendants of Donkeys due to their stubborness.

What attacks from the West Bank? The settlers should stop their IDF-protected attacks in Hebron and during the olive harvest.

1) All attacks must stop. Mark: Has never happened. 2) The PLO and Hamas must recognize Israels "right to exist". Mark: Both Charteres(Hamas & PLO) call for Israels destruction 3) A single leadership must speak for the Palestinians that can control their people and honor past agreements. Mark: See #1, and Arafat and Abbas made statements and agreements for Israels "right to exist" and now Hamas, at least, does not honor that past agreement. These are minimum requirements for any negotiations yet here we are talking about settlements.

...dance around Abbas's "funeral pyre," I would respectfully remind them of that hackneyed old saw: "Sometimes the demon you know is preferable to the one you do not." True, "sometimes" is not "always"--but it still remains "sometimes." (Then again, Casino operators would drive Fords instead of Jaguars if fewer folks chose to roll the dice.)

a self fullfilling prophecy that will help nobody except Hamas and their Persian patrons. He can always refuse the Israeli deal after he actually hears it.

Look as has been said before, stop the attacks on Israel first, then will talk. Why would Israel want to negotiate with somebody who 1) cannot stop attacks 2) does not recognize Israel "right to exist". Then blames the "settlements" which are a non-violent response to the attacks and attempt to create a buffer zone if a peace agreement is reached. The Pals must prove they can live in peace before they can be trusted. Israel has already honored two peace(Egypt, Jordan) agreements and the Pals have honored none.

What dear Abbas did not tell us is that he turned down cold Olmerts most far reaching and generous offer wherein he would get 98% of what he wanted and the balance would be territory exchange. The failure is with Abbas and no one else. Palis are not ready for peace, dont want peace and dont want a state of their own. Two generous offers all turned down. Why. because Abbas would have been viewed as a traitor by hamas and would have been killed by them. \ Not the peace of the brave that we hear about is it. The peace train has left the station get on board palis or be left behind

Good riddance. What has Abbas done to advanc peace ? Did he stop terror, Qassam or incitement ? The intifida is over because Tsahal defeated the terrorists. Gaza got a war becausse Qassams. Hamas will take over, and everything will be clear; the Palestinians want the destruction of Israel. The only way to peace is negociation and compromise. As long as Palestinians don't back their leaders in compromise there will be no peace. A compromise now is not the compromise Palestinians could have get in 1967.

Abbas signals the futility of attempts to negotiate on the basis of past agreements. No other leader will be able say that they believe negotiations can succeed, because their opponents will say, "If Abbas can't do it, why can you". This is a very bad sign for the future.